Anemia Anatomy

To better understand anemia, it helps to understand the anatomy and composition of blood.

Blood is a circulating tissue that carries nourishment and oxygen to the cells and tissue.

Blood is composed of 3 cell types that are suspended in a protein-rich fluid called plasma:

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

White blood cells (leukocytes)

Platelets (thrombocytes)

Red Blood CellsRed blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is the molecule that carries oxygen to the tissues. A decrease in the number of red blood cells reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried by the bloodstream. This can result in poor exercise tolerance and fatigue.

White Blood CellsWhite blood cells are an important part of the immune system. There are several types of white cells (leukocytes) present in the blood. These cells mainly function to fight infection. Normal total ranges for white blood cells are: 4,500 - 11,000 (per cubic millimeter). Slightly higher counts are normal in children.

A white blood cell differential reports the percentages of the different types of white blood cells that comprise the total white blood cell count. These values are reported as a percentage of the total number of cells.